News Release

Press "$1.6" Million for More Information Restricting Public Services

Denise Roth Barber2012-03-20
Helena, MT–In the spring of 2011, North Carolina became the 19th state to restrict local governments from building publicly-owned broadband networks. The state's two biggest cable providers, Time Warner Cable and CenturyLink, along with the North Carolina Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCCTA), aggressively lobbied for the bill and were prominent campaign donors.

According to a report by the National Institute on Money in State Politics, Dialing Up the Dollars: Telecommunication Interests Donated Heavily to NC Lawmakers, Republican lawmakers and those who held key leadership positions, sponsored the bill, and/or who voted in favor of the bill received considerably more campaign contributions from the telecommunication donors than did their colleagues. For example, lawmakers who voted in favor of HB 129 received on average 76 percent more than the average received by those who voted against the bill. The four primary sponsors of the bill received an average of $9,438 each, more than double the $3,658 given on average to lawmakers who did not sponsor the bill.

Four key leaders received more money from telecommunication donors in 2010-2011 than they had in previous elections. Thom Tillis, speaker of the House in 2011, received $37,000 from the industry in 2010–2011. AT&T, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon each gave Tillis $1,000 in early-mid January, just before he was sworn in as speaker on January 26. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger received $19,500. Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown received $9,000. Democratic Leader Martin Nesbitt received $8,250.

Of note, Democratic Gov. Perdue refused to sign or veto the bill. During her 2008 election campaign, Perdue had received $21,250 from telecommunication donors.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan National Institute on Money in State Politics collects and analyzes campaign contribution information on state-level candidates, political party committees, and ballot committees. Its free, searchable database of contributions is online at FollowTheMoney.org.